July 6,
2011 - Ponca City, Oklahoma
The Future
Fisherman Foundation has recently named industry pacesetter, Mark Gintert, the
new Executive Director. Gintert is an
avid outdoorsman and angler with an extensive background in the private
business sector both in manufacturing and retailing as a past owner of a
successful boat dealership. For the last
5 years he’s served as the National Youth Director and the National
Conservation Director for The Bass Federation (TBF); Gintert will continue to
hold those positions as well. TBF is the
oldest and largest organized grass roots fishing organization in the country
with three main principles, Fishing, Youth, and Conservation.
TBF has
developed and expanded several industry leading programs to get young anglers
involved in fishing. TBF’s Reel Kids
Casting Program targets 7 to 15 year olds with skills based casting events. TBF‘s Junior Angler Program reaches youth in
an adult/junior club mentoring program. The TBF Student Angler Federation,
(SAF), engages high school and middle school students nationwide with education
based fishing clubs and events. All
programs feed into the Association of College Anglers, (ACA), which fosters the
growth of collegiate fishing at all college campuses.
“This is a
great opportunity for both organizations to grow youth fishing together,”
Gintert stated. “It’s going to be a lot
of work providing the educational services and equipment needed to get more
students involved. However, I’m excited about the future challenges and
opportunities. Going forward, we intend to
enhance programs such as Hooked on Fishing Not on Drugs, Phys Ed, and C.A.T.C.H
in order to help transition students from the classroom to practicing anglers. In
some programs, the bell rings and the student’s fishing experience ends with
the day. We’ll expand beyond the
classroom or one-day derbies and offer multiple ways for students to
participate, like with school fishing clubs where they can fish for a variety
of species in a wide range of settings. Our collective programs will not only
offer encouragement, fun and camaraderie but also the tools to carry the love
of fishing for the rest of their life.”
“We’re extremely excited to have Mark Gintert as
our new Executive Director,” Future Fisherman Foundation board chair, Kerry
Campbell, said. “The successes and
growth of the TBF’s Youth Fishing programs under Mark’s leadership are testaments
to his passion to teach all children the joys of fishing. Using fishing skills
as the incentive, he’s been able to teach our next generation the importance of
caring for our resources. As the TBF
Youth Director, Mark has been expanding and building relationships with educators
nationwide and he understands the importance of working hand-in-hand with
educators to ensure we offer the best programs.
The opportunity to combine our efforts is the perfect vehicle for
reaching more youth that will become lifelong responsible anglers.”
The
Foundation is also pleased to announce through the efforts of previous
Executive Director, Keith Sutton, and Education Manager, Teresa Rodriquez, the
foundation recently secured a grant through the Recreational Boating and
Fishing Foundation to begin at least four regional
training seminars across the country.
This will once again create great opportunities for educators to get
involved with the F3 Programs.
“The
Future Fisherman Foundation has provided educational services to over a million
young anglers over the years and we’re quickly moving to expand and continue
that great tradition with the help of everyone involved in the industry,”
Gintert stated.
The Future
Fishing Foundation is on the move! With a new office location, new Executive
Director, new training seminars and more new announcements to come! The
Foundation’s new office will be located at 5998 E. Pleasant View Rd. in Ponca
City, Okla., 74604, which is also home to The Bass Federation’s (TBF’s) new office
complex and warehouse facility.
About the Future Fisherman
Foundation
Established in 1986, F3 unites the
sport-fishing industry and a nationwide network of state outdoor educators,
national conservation groups and youth organizations dedicated to introducing
America's youth to angling and the outdoors. These efforts help people of all
ages have safe and enjoyable fishing experiences that foster conservation
ethics. Visit www.futurefisherman.org.
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